Stuck @ Home? Engage with FIRST!

Like much of the rest of the world, we're all getting used to a new normal. If you're missing FIRST as bad as we are and are looking for ways to engage your students that are stuck at home, there are lots of ways to continue to be involved. 

NEW: FIRST @ Home
A compilation of some of the best in remote-learning activities, many of which are put out by friends and sponsors of FIRST, this new hub for digital learning allows teams to engage in meaningful and safe ways. The FIRST @ Home Hub includes guides for parents, hands-on activities in coding, core values, engineering design, CAD, electronics and more. What a great way for your students to stay sharp while at home! Check out all the great content here!

Building Star Wars Droids Activity!
Celebrate Star Wars Day (May the Fourth) with FIRST by designing a droid! Then join FIRST and Lucasfilm droid designer Matt Denton (creator of BB8 and D-O) on May the Fourth for Galactic Builders LIVE! Download the lesson plan here!

FIRST Rise Rewind
Share how your team is a Force for Change and celebrate the FIRST Rise Season using #FIRSTFFC on social media. Then check out all the incredible awesomeness from teams around the world on FIRST Rise Rewind. 

FIRST Virtual Showcase
We can celebrate together even if we're still apart, and that exactly what FIRST intends to do during the FIRST Virtual Showcase. This event takes place May 2 at 10 am Eastern and will celebrate teams and the FIRST Rise season. Many awards for volunteers and teams will also be announced! Don't miss it!

We miss you all dearly and hope you're all safe and healthy. Hope to virtually "see" many of you at the Showcase! As always, May the Force be with you!

Compass & Promote; Summer Invitational

Teams, we're thinking of all of you as we continue to plot a new course through uncharted waters. We hope you all are safe, healthy, and taking care of each other. Please feel free to reach out to us if you have questions or just need to chat with someone that's not in your household! 

All our love, from Dave, Christine & the AZ Planning Committee

Rover Robotics Invitational - Postponed

Due to the continuing worldwide COVID-19 crisis, all FIRST events have been postponed. We are working with NAU's ROADS on MARS coordinating team to pick a new event date and working with FIRST headquarters for guidance on timing of events. 

Can't get enough SKYSTONE? Come compete at the Rover Robotics Invitational TBD, 2020 at Sinagua Middle School in Flagstaff! This event will feature FLL (City Shaper), FTC (SKYSTONE) and the new NASA Challenge ROADS on Mars! 

Teams can fill out the registration form to express interest in competing. We will be in touch with interested teams as soon as we have a date. 

This event is only $100 per FIRST Team! 

In addition to the robotics competitions, there will be other activities to celebrate all things Rover. Come celebrate with us! 

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER 

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FLYER 

ROADS on MARS Freestyle!

Looking for a cool way to engage your robotics team during quarantine and maybe win a trip to NASA? Check out the ROADS on MARS Freestyle Challenge, which features mini challenges that students can do independently but together. Registration closes April 13. 

Submit your Compass and Promote Videos!

FIRST Headquarters is inviting all FIRST Tech Challenge teams that created a Compass or Promote video for the SKYSTONE season to submit it for the May 2nd FIRST Virtual Showcase presented by Qualcomm! Videos will be reviewed by FIRST HQ staff and the winners announced at the Showcase. 

**Submit your video by 3 PM Eastern Time on April 10, 2020 for consideration!**

To Submit Videos:

1. Be sure to read the criteria for the Compass and Promote Awards in Game Manual Part 1. 
2. The file name for your video must follow the naming convention:State Abbreviation_Team#_Award Type 
   Example: NH_12345_Promote.
3. Upload your video to your Google Drive account. If you do not have a Google Drive account, you will need to create one at https://www.google.com/drive/
4. Once your video is uploaded to your Google Drive account, share your video with ftcteams@gmail.com

1. Right click on your video file in your Google Drive account
2. Select “Share"
3. Enter ftcteams@gmail.com as the address with which to share your file.
4. Select “Done”. 

**Files not using the naming convention listed above will not be accepted. 
**Files not submitted via Google Drive will not be accepted. 
**Files that are not within the 60 second time limit will not be accepted. 
**Files submitted after ****3:00 PM EST on 04/10/2020**** will not be accepted. 
**Teams must have rights to any music used in the video and permissions must be listed in video credits.

Share your favorite moments from FIRST RISE

Now through May 2, share how your team is a Force for Change, as well as your team’s favorite moments during the FIRST RISE season, on Twitter and Instagram using #FIRSTFFC. We’ll be collecting your favorite moments, stories, monumental breakthroughs, and team accomplishments on FIRST RISE Rewind. Follow along as we compile these posts from our community around the world, honoring your hard work and achievements throughout the year. Together, we RISE.

Opportunities to Compete & New Mexico Championship Results

Rover Robotics Invitational - Registration Now Open!

Can't get enough SKYSTONE? Come compete at the Rover Robotics Invitational May 2, 2020 at Sinagua Middle School in Flagstaff! This event will feature FLL (City Shaper), FTC (SKYSTONE) and the new NASA Challenge ROADS on Mars! 

Registration will be open now through April 1, and is only $100 per FIRST Team! 

In addition to the robotics competitions, there will be other activities to celebrate all things Rover. Come celebrate with us! 

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER 

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FLYER 

Extra Life FIRST Tech Challenge Tournament!

San Diego is putting on a festival of robots and new challenges involving the SKYSTONE Field. Teams that are out of region can register starting now and through March 16, or until all spots are filled. The event takes place at the Del Mar Fair Grounds on April 25 & 26, 2020. Cost is $125 per team. 

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER 

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FLYER 

Maryland Tech Invitational

The Maryland Tech Invitational is all about robots. Teams apply to the Invitational, which is 3 days at John Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Maryland. Interested teams need to apply by March 23. The Invitational is June 19-21, 2020. 

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

New Mexico Championship Results

Congrats to all 25 teams that competed in last weekend's New Mexico Championship! 

Inspire Award: 10984, Beep Patrol

Dean's List Finalists:

Kasey (Brain Hackers)

Isabel (ENIGMA)

Winning Alliance

16265, ENIGMA

8081, Knights of the Lab Table

10523, Dragons

Finalist Alliance 

7649, Botrregos, Jr

10984, Beep Patrol

16159, HOT Squad

Think Award: 11054, Brain Hackers

Connect Award: 11298, Die Krieger

Collins Aerospace Innovate Award: 15789, Lovington RoboCats

Design Award: 14571, Marvels

Motivate Award: 16159, HOT Squad

Control Award sponsored by Arm, Inc: 10523, Dragons

Promote Award: 14571, Marvels

Compass Award: Mr. Vasudev, Beep Patrol

Judges Award: 16845, Error 404

New Mexico Championship Live Stream

Rover Robotics Invitational - Registration Now Open!

Can't get enough SKYSTONE? Come compete at the Rover Robotics Invitational May 2, 2020 at Sinagua Middle School in Flagstaff! This event will feature FLL (City Shaper), FTC (SKYSTONE) and the new NASA Challenge ROADS on Mars! 

Registration will be open now through April 1, and is only $100 per FIRST Team! 

In addition to the robotics competitions, there will be other activities to celebrate all things Rover. Come celebrate with us! 

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER 

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FLYER 

FIRST Tech Challenge Jump Start

Is your school interested in starting another team? Do you have a feeder school or another school in your district interested in starting a team? Do you mentor a FIRST Lego League team that's ready to "graduate" to FIRST Tech Challenge? 

The FIRST Tech Challenge Jump start program is now open! Teams can register early for the 2020/2021 season and get their robot kit prior to regular registration opening in May! Jump Start is EXTENDED THROUGH MARCH 15, so start recruiting those new rookie teams now! 

Find out more here.

Good luck to all the Teams competing this weekend and the NEW MEXICO FIRST TECH CHALLENGE CHAMPIONSHIP!! 

Watch all the robot action here!

AZ Championship Results & Rover Robotics Invitational

Arizona Championship Results

Congrats to all 48 teams that competed in last weekend's Arizona Championship! Thank you especially to the AZ Planning Committee, all the volunteers, and the CocoNuts for putting on such a rocking event! Special thanks to Ken Johnson, Director of FIRST Tech Challenge, for making the trip to Arizona to celebrate with us!

Inspire Award: 10253, Dragons

Dean's List Finalists:
Kaitlyn J. from team 12892, Juggerbots
Ella M. from 14254, Trivium Knight Lights
Brianna W. from 11529, Navajo Code Writers

Championship Winning Alliance (from Grand Canyon Division)
11212, The Clueless & 6929, Data Force & 14814, MC^2

Championship Finalist Alliance (from Saguaro Division)
16258, ROBO Raptors & 16265, ENIGMA & 10369, Robosapiens

Saguaro Division Finalists:
13968, Herberger Howlers & 12767, Catholic Master Builders & 15430, ACE Robotics

Grand Canyon Division Finalists: 
8995, Jaegers & 8081, Knights of the Lab Table & 10523, Dragons

Think Award: 7716, Knight Tech Robotics

Connect Award: 16684, Cosmic Voltage

Collins Aerospace Innovate Award: 10369, Robosapiens

Design Award: 8995, Jaegers Robotics

Motivate Award: 14584, Pioneer 327

Control Award sponsored by Arm, Inc: 8081, Knights of the Lab Table

Promote Award: 14999, Prestige Worldwide

Compass Award: Mike Comstock from team 6174, Automatons

Judges Award: 10984, Beep Patrol

Outstanding Volunteers: Zach & Lexxi (Head FTAs)

Rover Robotics Invitational - Registration Now Open!

Can't get enough SKYSTONE? Come compete at the Rover Robotics Invitational May 2, 2020 at Sinagua Middle School in Flagstaff! This event will feature FLL (City Shaper), FTC (SKYSTONE) and the new NASA Challenge ROADS on Mars! 

Registration will be open now through April 1, and is only $100 per FIRST Team! 

In addition to the robotics competitions, there will be other activities to celebrate all things Rover. Come celebrate with us! 

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER 

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FLYER 

AZ CHAMPIONSHIP LIVE STREAM!

Good luck to all the Teams competing this weekend and the ARIZONA FIRST TECH CHALLENGE CHAMPIONSHIP!! 

Watch all the robot action here!

Thank you to the CocoNuts for providing the Live Stream...

Grand Canyon Division:

Saguaro Division:

LIVE SCORING ON THE ORANGE ALLIANCE

World Championship Wait List & West Valley Results

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WAIT LIST CLOSES FRIDAY!

From the FIRST Tech Challenge Blog...

How do I apply?

• Login to your team's dashboard
• Click on the pull down button labeled "Event Options" and select "View Team Events"
• Click on the button labeled "Find An Event"
• Click on the Blue Name of the Championship Event that appears
• The event will pop open in a new window
• Click on the button labeled "Waitlist". You will then be registered to the waitlist.

How are teams selected?

Teams are selected using a random, weighted lottery.

How does the lottery work?

Teams are weighted using the following criteria:

Receiving one lottery entry:

• Rookie Teams
• Teams that attended a World Championship event in April of 2019
• Inactive Veteran teams that returned in the current season

Receiving two lottery entries:

• Teams that were Rookie Teams in the 2018-2019 season
• Teams that last attended the World Championship in April of 2018
• Inactive Veteran teams that returned in the 2018-2019 season

Receiving three lottery entries:

• Teams that were Rookie Teams in the 2017-2018 season
• Teams that last attended the World Championship in April of 2017
• Inactive Veteran teams that returned in the 2017-2018 season

When does the lottery close?

The lottery closes on February 14^th, 2020, although teams may not be notified of their acceptance until the Regional Championship for their area has been held.

Good Luck!

West Valley Qualifier Results

Congrats to all the teams that competed! Thank you to Cat-astrophic Byte for putting on such an awesome event!

Inspire Award: 6174, Automatons

Winning Alliance: 10984, Beep Patrol & 8995, Jaegers & 16159, HOT Squad

Finalist Alliance: 14584 Pioneer 327 & 6174, Automatons & 8081, Knights of the Lab Table

Think Award: 8081, Knights of the Lab Table

Connect Award: 16143, Soup or Stars

Collins Aerospace Innovate Award: 2844, Valley X

Design Award: 10369, Robosapiens

Motivate Award: 14584, Pioneer 327

Control Award sponsored by Arm, Inc: 10984, Beep Patrol

Judges Award: 16647, Undefined

Teams Advancing to the Arizona Championship: 

6174, Automatons

10984, Beep Patrol 

16159, HOT Squad

16143, Soup or Stars

17460, Technical Terrors

16647, Undefined